How can you help with the Kenya Flood effort?
April 22, 2018 – For the past several days, Kenya has been subject to severe rains and flooding. The forecast over the next 5 days is calling for more of the same.
What is compounding the issue in Kenya is that they have been in a state of drought for at least the past year. The ground is more like a clay pot that soil. Due to this, the heavy rains are pooling and flooding villages leading to contaminated water supplies. As food and clean become more scarce, the situation in Kenya will get to a critical state.
I have been to Kenya three times and I know many of the Pastors in the Kisumu area. Many of them are affected by the floods and want to help those who are in need, but they lack the resources.
While this is my photography business website, I will use it to help those in need. I also firmly believe that the best way to help in these situations is to give directly to the people affected in lieu of organizations who may redirect funds. I have known both Samson Otieno and Boaz Omugah personally since my first trip to Kenya in 2009. Both of them are in areas that are directly affected by these floods and they could use our help.
What is mPesa?
mPesa is a system that many Kenyans use to send money via mobile to mobile. Quite simply, mPesa is used in lieu of cash the same way that many of us use a debit card, except it is just texting money back and forth. Many Kenyans do not have a bank, but almost everyone has mPesa.
How to Send mPesa to Boaz or Samson to help buy supplies
There is a service called World Remit that enables Americans to send mobile money payments to Kenya via mPesa. If you want to help, this is about the fastest and most efficient way that I know to get them needed supplies. Last I checked, the maximum amount that you can send per day is 70,000 KSH = Approx $700 USD.
I will include their information below if you want to send help to Samson, Boaz or both.
- Click on this link to go to the World Remit site.
- Create an account.
- Select the Country of Kenya
- Sending “Mobile Money Transfer”
- Enter the recipient’s information (Samson and Boaz’s information is below)
- Pay with Credit Card or Bank Transfer
Samson Otieno – Kisumu, Kenya – Mobile number 723699112 (Mobile number is also the mPesa number)
Boaz Omugah – Chemilil, Kenya – Mobile number 722993989 (Mobile number is also the mPesa number)
Both Boaz and Samson will be looking after the needs of the people in their areas. After the rains, the mosquito population will likely bring waves of malaria, so medicine will be needed as well.
I appreciate everyone’s willingness to help during this time of need. It is very hard to be so far away knowing that my friends are suffering. I have sent what I can at the moment and I will personally be sending more when I am able to. Kenya does not have the infrastructure that we have in the United States, so these kinds of floods may be the start of period of starvation, sickness and death for these dear people.
If you would like to send words of encouragement to either Boaz or Samson, I have hyperlinked their e-mail addresses above for ease of contact. Also, please Like, Share and Tweet to get the word out.
Thank you for your prayers and support,
David Morefield
Fluffyshotme Photography
